The state’s academic standards have earned an A+ from the American Federation of Teachers.
In the union’s latest report on standards, it recognizes Virginia as the only state to meet its criteria for strong standards in English, math, science and history at all grade levels and in all subjects, according to a news release from the Virginia Department of Education.
The union based its report on the state Standards of Learning and the academic standards of other states, the release says.
The American Federation of Teachers, founded in 1916, represents the interests of classroom teachers, according to the group’s Web site. It is an international union affiliated with the AFL-CIO and has more than 1.4 million members.
The report also notes that Virginia uses standards for U.S. and world history into early elementary grades.
According to a press statement on the group’s site, the report cites Arkansas, Indiana and Louisiana for making “dramatic improvements over the years.”
States that had 75 percent of their standards meeting the group’s criteria are Alabama, California, Georgia, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington, D.C. and West Virginia.
To read the report, go to www.aft.org.
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Only teachers should respond to this drivel
One major reason (though not the total reason) that Virginia meets its Standards of Learning is because teachers are held acountable for students' passing or failing the SOL test. And guess what? Teachers aren't stupid, so they've all learned to teach to the test... with their administrators' approval since they don't want to have a failing school! A successful score on the SOL means nothing except that the teachers have learned how to teach to the test and students have learned how to take one. Everyone in K-12 education knows that.
I'm generalizing, but yes, kids are dumber today than ever. Calculators and computers do everything for them. In this age of instant gratification, attention spans are shorter than ever and no one reads, and therefore we have a generation of young people who lack basic usage/mechanics skills in their writing and their reading comprehension skills are deplorable. Perhaps they're learning differently and sharpening other parts of their brains. Let's hope that's the case, but I don't see written communication becoming less important or falling by the wayside anytime soon.
Ummm...
" I have high school students in a vocational class that can not tell me, in a cohesive written letter, what are the branch's of our government,"
There are teachers who don't understand that the plural of "branch" is "branches" and not "branch's"?
[Sorry, one of my pet peeves is using the possessive instead of the plural form when plural is meant.]
Union? What Union....
I didn't see a union! Va Beach doesn't have a union? I teach and don't even know about this "union". Experiencing the "dumbing down" of American teens first hand, I have to agree with the first poster. This is the "iGen" generation. Give them a paper with a grade of 18/25 and they ask, "What's my grade?" I then proceed to break it down for them..well, 25 goes into 100, 4 times, which means each one is worth 4 points. You missed 7 out of 25, so 7 times 4 is 28. 28 from 100 is 72. And all without a calculator. This is high school level. Teens these days only "seem" smarter, because they're expected to know less. Just learn enough to pass the SOL's. To get "pass proficient" on most SOL's, you only need to get 26 out of 50 correct. Thats only 52% of the material. There is no higher thinking involved, problem solving, inquiry activities...its all head-pounding memory. I saw it first hand with the 3rd grade SOLs. My daughter brought home SOL reviews every day since Spring Break. Its just drilling it into their heads in hopes of holding on to the information long enough to pass the SOL. Its crazy. Only high schools should have SOLs, since those are the only courses that
Huh??? Reading is an important Skill
Chriss52287: Hello... The union gave the A+ grade in the story. Try reading it again slowly....
Nail salon comment
"I hardly believe that! In Chesapeake they want or are going to teach nail salon technology. Now there's a high tech trade that will impact the economy!"
I think it is a great idea. College and advanced courses are not for everyone and I'd rather have kids earning a living vs. welfare. People need to realize that not every child is academically able to become engineers, doctors, lawyers, etc. Along with advanced studies, the city does have a responsibility to offer life skills and trades to those who may not otherwise become employed.
Abolish teachers unions
Enough is enough, this hooligans need to be out of our childrens classes. Only the best should teach. Adios unions!
Parents and Posters have been "dumbed down"
You folks never cease to amaze me. You have it all so very wrong. Our kids are smarter today than ever. Look at all the things they can do and have experienced that we never had the chance to learn. I'm sorry if you all have dumb down children but I'm proud of all my college graduates and the bright future they have before them. Maybe if you spent more time with them vs. posting comments online, they wouldn't be so dumb(I'm just joking).
My children make me proud everyday! Get out and watch the beauty of our young people in action and maybe then you will see just how much they have to offer.
A+...Really?
A+? I hardly believe that! In Chesapeake they want or are going to teach nail salon technology. Now there's a high tech trade that will impact the economy! National Public Radio stated that Virginia is the richest state in the Union, yet is ranked 33rd for spending money on its public schools. Let's not mention Norfolk with its grandiose scheme for lowering the 2.0 grade average-which was, back in my high school days a very clear indicator that 1.) You did not understand english 2.) You were not "performing" up to the academic standards set forth or 3.) You were not going to class. The AFT voted? Big deal! Where do they get the data from? Answer-The Virginia Department of Education. I have high school students in a vocational class that can not tell me, in a cohesive written letter, what are the branch's of our government, or even better, "Who was Albert Einstein"? Ask about car rims, car stereos, basketball, football and cell phones and they ARE the PERSON to go to. Sorry, not sufficient to enter the working force. The children have been "dumbed" down, China imports are rising everyday and the shortage of students who graduate and actually "make" things" are disappearing from the